Bayan Muna Partylist launched its “White Ribbon Campaign” to demand justice for the victims of jailed former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called war on drugs.
Following Duterte’s arrest last month, Bayan Muna said they seek to draw attention on the need for justice for the victims.
Bayan Muna bewailed that Duterte’s supporters are trying to portray Duterte as the victim and that his arrest was without warrant and due process.
The partylist’s first nominee and counsel to families of drug war victims Neri Colmenares led the launch of the campaign today at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, joining families of victims, human rights advocates and faith-based groups in a united call for justice for those killed under Duterte’s “war on drugs.”
The campaign seeks to mobilize nationwide support for the ongoing pursuit of accountability, as Duterte currently faces trial before the ICC in for crimes against humanity, Bayan Muna explained.
The partylist cited that the Philippine National Police itself admitted to at least 6,252 individuals—mostly from urban poor communities—were killed during the Duterte’s bloody anti-drug operations.
“We are here today not only to remember the victims, but to demand that Rodrigo Duterte be held accountable for the mass murder of the poor. The white ribbon symbolizes our collective grief, but more importantly, our unwavering resolve to seek justice,” Colmenares announced.
The human rights lawyer said that the systematic killing of victims constitute crime against humanity, more so that the thousands of victims were poor.
Colmenares said that the White Ribbon Campaign actually began last March 28 on Duterte’s 80th birthday when he first mentioned it in his speech at a rally at Liwasang Bonifacio.
At today’s launch, Bayan Muna and members of Rise Up for Life and for Rights tied white ribbons at the foot of the Bantayog and distributed ribbons at St. Peter Church along Commonwealth Avenue, calling on the public to wear white ribbons, display campaign stickers and pins, and change social media profile photos to the campaign logo as acts of solidarity.
Colmenares also directed strong words at the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration: “We call on the Marcos government to stop its hypocrisy. If it truly values justice, it must protect the victims and their families, and fully cooperate with the ICC proceedings,”
“The state must not be an accomplice to impunity,” Colmenares said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
